Northridge Pitches Their Way to 3-1 Victory Over Cal State Bakersfield

Six Cal State Northridge (15-20) pitchers combined to allow only seven hits Tuesday afternoon as the Matadors defeated the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (8-24) by a score of 3-1.

Matador starter Paul Tremlin earned his fourth victory on the year while teammate Brian Slover picked up his fourth save in the process thanks to a two-run third inning that provided all the necessary offense for CSUN to earn their fifteenth victory of the season.

The team will now prepare for the next two days before heading to Long Beach State for a three-game series against the 49ers this weekend.

In that third inning for Northridge, their first two batters reached base as Justin DeMarco drew a walk before being joined on base by TS Reed who was hit-by-a-pitch. After each advanced one base due to a Roadrunner throwing error, DeMarco scored the first run of the game when Ryan Pineda grounded out to the third baseman.

Another ‘Runner throwing error, committed by the third baseman this time in an effort to throw out Chris Hannick enabled Reed to scamper home without a play being made at the plate to stretch the initial one run lead to two.

Bakersfield’s most serious scoring opportunity took place in their half of the sixth inning when they were able to load the bases with two singles and a walk, all with zero outs in the inning.

‘Runner outfielder Joey McIntyre’s single to right field scored what would turn out to be the only run for his team all game; a head-up play and laser-like throw back to the infield prevented any extra runs from crossing the plate during McIntyre’s at-bat.

What looked to be a routine sacrifice fly to left field in the very next at-bat turned into a scoring opportunity that was quickly eradicated thanks to the cannon-like arm of left-fielder Richard Cates as outfielder Joey Mills, who was on third base at that time, made a break towards home plate before being held up by his coach at third base due to Cates’ throw to the plate.

Ryan McCarney then emerged from the bullpen to close out the inning, a successful stint on the mound as he was able to prevent Bakersfield from tying the game.

Northridge would add an insurance run in the eighth inning DeMarco’s double to left field was hit deep enough to the gap in left field to score Jeff Pruitt who ran full-steam from first base all the way around the diamond on the play to stretch CSUN’s lead to 3-1.

Matador reliever Brian Slover would end up taking the mound in the ninth and face only four batters before earning his fourth save of the season, ending a two-game losing streak in the process.

Cal State Northridge will head down the 405 freeway for three Big West Conference games against the Long Beach State 49ers starting Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. Starting pitchers will be announced later on in the week; fans can catch all the action online via GameTracker or listen to Dave Caldwell broadcast Saturday’s game by visiting www.GoMatadors.com.